Coin gate mechanism



March 22, 1949. BROUSSARD I 2,465,146

COIN GATE MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 23, 1946 /0 V 1 g B fly 1 Y 7 0 Cr 7 I BobertFBrozzssard 33% QM Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATiEZg E-NT oft-tics COIN GATE MECHANISM 'Robert FJ Broussard, Houston,"-1ex.,-'assignor to Duncan Meter Corporation; Chicago," 111., a corporation of llllinois Cl: 232-l6) 7 .Claims.

:This invention relates-to a coin gate mechanism adapted for. applicationtota machine from which scoins accumulated in the machine -may berejmoved therefromby' an authorized collector while aimaintained inaccessibleto him during and after 1 the removal operation. For this purpose I prowide at the coin outlet of the machine a gate which coactspin a. special manner with a comr-plementary gateon a'conduit whichextends toxor iaconstitutes a collecting receptacle; the coins in passing through :both :gates. into .the collecting receptable remain fully surrounded and .com-

pletely enclosed.

.For its objects my invention aims to provide .-.a simple andeflective protecting apparatus. for -:the purpose noted, .In the accomplishment of :this endI utilize a pair of complementary :key- -1 controlled gates, one coacting with the other; and :both operable :by a common handle. Means are .aalso provided-to prevent opening .ofthe gates :..until after the conduit leadingto the collecting -ireceptacle has been fitted operativelyin place. Additionally, means are provided to prevent :re- ::moval of theconduit until after the gates .are again closed, so that in this concluding stage of the coin handling, access is barred to the money compartment "within the machine and also to firtheconduit leading to the collecting receptacle.

:These and-other objects-of my invention may ibe realizedby aiconstruction of which a sugr-gestive embodiment isset forth in the'accompany- Min-g drawing wherein- Figure 1.is avertical section through the base .chamber of :a coin machine showingacoinibox therein in its normal. or fully enclosed position;

.Fig. iz'whichis a similar view shows the coin aboxswung to an outer position, as when the coin .a handling apparatus is fitted thereto;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in vertical section *through the complementary. gates of the money box and conduit, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is. a plan perspective view ofthe gates which are .afiixed to the coin box of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of vthe gate which is iinseparably united to the free end of the conduit leading to the collecting'receptacle; and

Fig. 6 is a viewin perspective, partlybroken zaway to exhibit certainparts in section, showing the two complementary gates in operative relationship-with both gates swung to open positions.

The mechanism of this invention is applicable :to coin machines in general. In the form illustrated, the base housing H is such as might be fused with a parking meter. It'maybe provided -a circularloutletopening o is there provided for ca-ffixat-ion of .a-z-key-controlledgate X.

The gate. comprises a cylindrical body lifrom which is l-entended-a circular flange lfi'adapted to enter within-the opening o in the bottom of the box EB,.-. and to-be"headed over to secure the :gate thereto. -A transversely. slotted ear I! which vextendsflfrom one side of the gate-body i5 is provided -with :a longitudinal circular opening for receiving the barrel l-.8-.=of a --cylindrical lock-of which the ear liuforms' the cylinder. Extending approximately one-half way around the inner ad), which .is alignedwithand joins a slot -2| extending through the remaining half of the gate-abodyhand through theear H. .A circular 'diskH22 is slidably fitted in the groove 20 and in .theslot 2i about its peripheral margins, and this diskliwhich constitutes agate is provided with ..:a laterally extending apertured tab 22a whichklies within the slotin the ear H to encompass thebarrel it to whic-hthe disk is secured, .as .by riveting, welding, or the like. A series ofitumblersfm carried by the barrel [-8 act normally to prevent rotation of the. barrel within .the ear' 17, whereby the opening in the gate X is normally closed by the disk 22 to prevent coins from passing outwardly from the box'B to which thegate is 'a'mxe'd. v

A .slmilankey-controlled gate Y, comprising a "body25, a flange .26, and a transversely slotted 'ear 2l'forming part of a cylindrical lock including abarrel 253, is arranged to mate with the gate The 'ga-te body 25 is also provided with a groove "38 (-see Fig. 6) extending half-way around the inner wall thereof and aligned with and joiningaislot 'fii extending through the other half en-the gate body and the ear 27. Within this slot randizgrooveithereiis" disposed a disk 32pmvided Withra laterally extending tab which extends intoi-fthetsl'ot inthe ear :2! in encompassing Arelationsto the? barrel 28.130 which it is. secured as zatiitsloweraendwith aidownwardly'iacing socket by riveting, welding, or the like. Tumblers 33,

II and 21. engagement with the notches in the keys 36 and disposed in aligned openings in the barrel 2B and in the inner wall of the ear 21, normally prevent rotation of the barrel relative to the body 25 of the gate. A circular flange 35 depends from the gate body into the end of a flexible conduit C, to which it is secured as by soldering, brazing, or the like, and which extends to or forms part of a portable collecting pouch or receptacle.

The gate X includes a depending key 36 adapted to unlock the complementary gate Y; this key is secured to and carried by the barrel I5 of the gate X. Similarly, the gate Y is provided with an upstanding key 31 which is adapted to fit the lock of the other gate X, this latter key being seemed to and carried by the barrel 28 of the gate Y. In order to remove the coins from the coin box B, the collector fits the two gates X and Y together, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When this is done, the keys 33 and 31 then operate the tumblers 23 and 33 to retracted positions which permit rotation of the barrels l8 and 28 by means of a handle 40 extending from one of the barrels. Rotation of the handle 40 causes the disks 22 and 32 to be swung out from the bodies of the respective gates through the slots 20 and 30 in the sides thereof, thereby permitting coins to pass from the coin box B through the two gates and into the conduit C en route to the portable pouch or receptacle carried by the collector.

It will be noted that as soon as the barrels l8 and 28 are rotated from their normal positions it is impossible for the tumblers 23 and 33 to move in a radial direction, since their outermost ends will then abut the inner walls of the ears As these tumblers are then in looking 31, it is impossible to withdraw the gate X from the mating gate Y when the gates are open; thus the gates can never be opened unless they are connected, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby to preclude any possibility of the collector obtaining access to the coins at any time.

It will be noted that each gate is pivotally mounted upon the lock barrel l8 or 28, as the case may be, so as to swing coaxially thereof. The

'interfitting keys 36 and 31 provide an operative connection between the two gates such that both are required to swing in unison. Also the two keys enter simultaneously into operative positions when the two gates are fitted one upon the other so that but a single movement is necessary to position all parts ready for operation. The operating handle 40 may be attached with perhaps greater convenience to the ear 28 which is connected to the gate 32, and a turning motion imparted thereto is at once communicated to the other gate so that both are operated together. When the conduit is disconnected from the money box, the two gates must first be closed but thereafter the parts are freed for separation without any further or subsequent operation to maintain the gates in closed positions for both the conduit and the money box. The latter is adapted to be swung inwardly to its normal vertical position within the chamber of the housing H, and there be secured with the aid of the key operated lock H. In this protected position it will remain until the next removal of coins takes place in the manner already set forth.

A previous disclosure of this invention was contained in my application Serial No. 717,835,

filed December 23, 1946, of which this case is a division. i

I claim:

1. In combination, a coin-controlled mechanism including a box in which accumulated coins are stored, a normally locked gate in said box through which the accumulated coins may be removed, and a second normally locked gate for sealing a portable container into which the coins are to be transferred, each of said gates including a fixedly mounted key which fits into the lock of the other gate to provide a motion transmitting connection thereto when both gates are disposed in aligned and abutting relation, whereby the gates can be opened in unison only when they are assembled, a continuous conduit being then provided for transferrence of the accumulated coins to the portable container.

2. In combination, a coin-controlled mechanism including a box in which accumulated coins are stored, a normally locked gate in the box through which the accumulated coins may be removed, and a second normally locked gate providing a closure for a portable container into which the coins are to be transferred, each of the gates comprising fixedly mounted coacting means interfitting with the other to provide a motion transmitting connection thereto when both gates are disposed in aligned and abutting relation adapted thereupon to free both gates simultaneously for opening movement, and operating means associated with one gate operative to open both gates simultaneously whereby a continuous conduit is then provided for transferrence of the accumulated coins to the portable container,

3. In combination, a coin-controlled mechanism including a box in which accumulated coins are stored, a normally locked gate in the box through which the accumulated coins may be removed, and a second normally locked gate providing a closure for a portable container into which the coins are to be transferred, each of the gates comprising a lock and a key operating means coacting with the lock of the other gate to effect a release thereof and provide a motiontransmitting connection therebetween, and an operating device for opening and closing both gates together.

4. In combination, a coin-controlled mechanism including a box in which accumulated coins are stored, a normally locked gate in the box through which the accumulated coins may be removed, and a second normally locked gate providing a closure for a portable container into which the coins are to be transferred, each of the gates comprising a lock and a key operating means coacting with the lock of the other gate to eifect a release thereof and provide a motiontransmitting connection therebetween, and an operating device for opening and closing both gates together, the coacting key-operating means, when operated, serving also to lock the two gates against separation whereby to maintain continuity in the conduit for transferrence of the accumulated coins to the portable container.

5. In combination, a coin-controlled mechanism including a box in which accumulated coins are stored, a first gate affixed to the box for controlling the release of coins therefrom, a second gate carried at one end of a conduit, a cylinder lock comprising a barrel forming a pivotal mounting for each gate, a key anchored to the barrel of each lock and extended outwardly therefrom for entry into the key-way of the other lock adapted, when interfitted therewith, to operate the same, and a handle affixed to the barrel of one look for transmitting rotary motion thereto and to the barrel of the other lock, and means connecting each gate with its associated :barrel for swinging movement therewith about the axis of the barrel as a center.

6. In combination, a coin-controlled mechanism including a box in which accumulated coins are stored, a gate afiixed to the coin box for controlling the release of coins therefrom, a second gate carried at one end of a conduit, a cylinder lock having a rotatable barrel in connection with each gate adapted for operation thereof, a key anchored to the barrel of each lock and extended outwardly therefrom for entry into the key-way of the other lock adapted, when interfitted therewith, to operate the same, the two keys serving to transmit rotary motion from one barrel to the other and thereby to the gates associated therewith.

7. In combination, a coin-mechanism comprising a housing enclosing a chamber open upon one side and provided with a discharge opening at the top, a door hinged to the housing to provide a closure for the chamber therewithin, a coin box carried by the door upon its inner side to swing outwardly therewith and provided at its top with an inlet opening, the coin box occupying a position within the housing chamber such that its inlet opening will lie below the discharge opening of the housing to receive coins dropping into the 6 chamber when the door is closed, and when the door is opened the inlet opening of the coin box will still be positioned within the housing chamber to remain inaccessible from the exterior thereof, the coin box being provided at its bottom with a discharge outlet, a normally-closed gate aifixed to the coin box at its outlet to control the release of coins thereirorn and exposed fully only when the door is swung to open position, a complementary normally-closed gate affixed toa conduit, a cylinder lock having a rotatable barrel for operating each gate, and a key anchored to the barrel of each lock and extending therefrom for entry into the key-way of the barrel of the other cylinder lock adapted, when interfitted therewith, to transmit motion therebetween whereby to open and close both gates in unison.

ROBERT F. BROUSSARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,125,052 Ranson July 26, 1938 2,277,916 Klemt Mar. 31, 1942 

